title: Differential modulation of the immune response by breast- or formula-feeding of infants.
abstract: Spontaneous integrin expression on CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ lymphocytes at 6 months was significantly lower in breastfed than formula-fed infants (p < 0.05). In another study of 59 formula-fed and 64 breastfed 12-month-old children blast transformation and cytokine production by lymphocytes, and T cell changes were measured before and after measles-mumps-rubella vaccination (MMR). Before vaccination, lymphocytes of breastfed children had lower levels of blast transformation without antigen (p < 0.001), with tetanus toxoid (p < 0.02) or Candida (p < 0.04), and lower interferon-gamma production (p < 0.03). Fourteen days after the live viral vaccination, only the breastfed children had increased production of interferon-gamma (p < 0.02) and increased percentages of CD56+ (p < 0.022) and CD8+ cells (p < 0.004). These findings are consistent with a Th1 type response by breastfed children, not evident in formula-fed children. Feeding mode has an important long-term immunomodulating effect on infants beyond weaning.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: H F
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Pabst
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Spady
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pilarski
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Beeler
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Krezolek
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001942:Breast Feeding; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D007156:Immunologic Memory; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D016023:Integrins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000517:prevention & control; D008458:Measles Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009107:Mumps / Q000517:prevention & control; D009108:Mumps Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D012409:Rubella / Q000517:prevention & control; D012411:Rubella Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D017778:Vaccines, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D022542:Measles-Mumps-Rubella Vaccine; D009108:Mumps Vaccine; D012411:Rubella Vaccine; D017778:Vaccines, Combined